(670 The Score) For the first time in a couple years, the Bears are once again relevant in the first round of the NFL Draft. Heading into the three-day event that starts next Thursday, speculation abounds about whether general manager Ryan Pace and the rest of the team's front office will once again trade up and take a quarterback.
With that in mind, we scoured the internet to find predictions. At least one of the latest mock drafts predicts the Bears doing exactly that -- taking a quarterback -- and another has them reaching for a lesser-known name at No. 20 overall. Here's whom the latest mocks have heading to Chicago in the first round.
CBS Sports – WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
"Bateman is a well-rounded wideout with deceptive route-running and YAC capabilities."
ESPN – CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech
"I'm not seeing any offensive tackles here for Chicago, even if I were to reach a little bit, and the Day 1 quarterbacks are off the board. So with Desmond Trufant on a one-year deal, I like Farley -- probably the top cover corner in the class -- as a running mate to Jaylon Johnson for years to come."
NFL.com – WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
"I think the Bears are prime candidates to move out of the No. 20 spot to collect some additional picks in the later rounds. They love their young WR, Darnell Mooney, but with Allen Robinson on the franchise tag and Anthony Miller's future unknown, I could see Bateman being the guy if Chicago stays put."
Sports Illustrated – CB Greg Newsome, Northwestern
"The Bears' roster has many needs, none larger than QB, but their draft slot, plus the expected early run on the top-five passers, make them ill-positioned to take one in the first round. Newsome, who has generated a lot of pre-draft buzz, would help Chicago's defense replace Kyle Fuller."
NBC Sports Chicago – OT Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State
"He has a nice, fluid, side-to-side kick slide and easily mirrors edge rushers' counter-moves. Very athletic for a man his size, he moves like a smaller player, yet uses powerful leg drives and a strong grip to dominate defenders. A versatile athlete, Jenkins has played both tackle positions plus right guard and never appeared lost or unprepared for any offensive call."
The Athletic – QB Mac Jones, Alabama (trade with LA Chargers)
"Bears GM Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy keep popping in on these QB workouts, including Justin Fields' second pro day. Trading into the top five is a bridge too far, but this sort of jump is within reach. No one's really buying all the 'Andy Dalton QB1' propaganda."
Sporting News – OT Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State
"The Bears are in the market for some kind of offensive line impact and getting the prototypical right tackle to be a rock for the running game with a smooth-enough frame for pass protection is a smart move should (Kadarius) Toney not be available."
Pro Football Network – QB Davis Mills, Stanford
"Davis Mills is not a first-round caliber quarterback, at all. He's basically C.J. Beathard. Mills is getting first-round buzz not only because a few NFL evaluators love tall pocket quarterbacks but also due to many who enjoy floating 'smokescreen' names to see if some sucker is desperate/foolish enough to reach for a fourth-round developmental low-upside quarterback far too early."
USA Today – CB Greg Newsome, Northwestern
"The Bears don't land a quarterback in this scenario, so they switch gears and upgrade at corner, where they just released their best cover man in veteran Kyle Fuller. Newsome's combination of size, length, athleticism and instincts are exactly what they need to adequately replace him, though."
Audacy Sports/Locked on Podcast – WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
"They need help at that position and I think that Bateman would be a good pick. The problem for the Bears, of course, is that they need help at multiple positions. They've got to get themselves a cornerback, they've got to get themselves an offensive tackle. They have to get a quarterback."
